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Conservative bill would ban niqabs during citizenship ceremony

A new law introduced by the Conservative government is in response to a recent Federal Court of Canada decision that ruled it is “unlawful” for Ottawa to order new citizens to remove their face-covering veil or niqab when taking the oath of citizenship.

Zunera Ishaq launched a legal challenge against Ottawa's niqab ban at citizenship oath-taking ceremonies. A new Conservative bill, introduced Friday, would require all applicants to show their faces while taking the oath. (Vince Talotta / Toronto Star file photo)

Ottawa has introduced new legislation that requires all Canadian citizenship applicants to show their face while taking the oath of citizenship.

The Oath of Citizenship Act, which was introduced Friday, is designed to make sure candidates are seen and heard reciting the oath of citizenship during ceremonies. The act would require all applicants to swear or affirm the oath of citizenship publicly and openly and in a way that others can verify both “aloud and with face uncovered.”

The new act is in response to a recent Federal Court of Canada decision that ruled it is “unlawful” for Ottawa to order new citizens to remove their face-covering veil or niqab when taking the oath of citizenship.

“The Citizenship Oath is an integral part of Canada’s citizenship ceremony, and where new Canadians embrace our country’s values and traditions, including the equality of men and women,” says Tim Uppal, Minister of State for Multiculturalism.

“This bill will ensure all citizenship candidates show their face as they take the Oath. We believe most Canadians, including new Canadians, find it offensive that someone would cover their face at the very moment they want to join our Canadian family.”

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The Conservative government legislation may never become law. Parliament is breaking for summer recess and the House of Commons won’t sit again until after the election.

“This new bill is an important policy initiative that the Conservative government believes is important for Canada’s future,” said Joe Kanoza, a spokesperson for Uppal. “It is one of a series of bills being introduced now, which will together form a substantial legislative agenda after the election.”

The Federal Court decision centred on Mississauga resident Zunera Ishaq, who came to Canada from Pakistan in 2008 and successfully passed the citizenship test in 2013. She decided to put her citizenship ceremony on hold after learning she would need to unveil her niqab under a ban introduced in 2011. Her Charter challenge ensued.

Earlier this year, the court told Ottawa that it must immediately lift the ban and allow Ishaq to reschedule a new citizenship ceremony unless it appeals the ruling and receives permission to suspend the order.

The ruling was unusual because the decision was based on the finding that the ban mandated by the immigration minister violated the government’s own immigration laws.

“To the extent that the policy interferes with a citizenship judge’s duty to allow candidates for citizenship the greatest possible freedom in the religious solemnization or the solemn affirmation of the oath it is unlawful,” wrote Justice Keith M. Boswell.

Ottawa indicated at the time it would appeal the ruling.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims, a prominent Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, said the new legislation undermines Canada’s cherished principles of freedom and equality for all.

“It is very disheartening that our government is spending so much time and effort to revive what is essentially a manufactured issue which appears to be being used for political purposes,” said Ihsaan Gardee, NCCM’s executive director.

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